8 Questions With: Ash

Keeping up with one of our own, and your favorite features here on the site, 8 Questions With, this week we got the opportunity to interview Mark Hamilton, bassist and all around sweet guy for our favorite Irish hitmakers, Ash (he can be found in the center of the accompanying photo). Here's how it went down.

1. The Music Slut: With such a massive group of songs to choose from (13+ years of tunes!), how do you decide which to play on tour? The last few times I've seen you guys, it's been half new stuff and half 1977-era tunes.
Ash: Well on this current University tour we're playing 5 new songs and then a selection of back cat stuff. We usually like to throw a good bunch of singles in there as that's what a lot of people wanna hear and then we also usually play a few fan favorite album tracks that we know work well live. It usually good not to do too many slower songs as people tend to lose interest and fuck off to the bar. We try to keep it intense and full on for 90% of the set. We got this new song called In Hell which people are freaking out about with is cool, it's our current favorite to play. Songs like Burn Baby Burn, Kung Fu. Orpheus and Girl From Mars usually send the crowd into a frenzy which is what it's all about.

2. The Music Slut: Any Irish talent we have yet to hear about but should be in the coming months? We figure you all might be a good authority on that front.
Ash: Check out V//Formation, they're currently on tour with us and are from the same area where we grew up. A few went to the same school and are mates with Tim's younger bro. They're like the Pixies with a fun twist. Really cool band. Hopefully they'll get signed and get a break.

3. The Music Slut: How was it recording the new album in NYC? It seemed like you guys were having a brilliant time at the 'secret' show at the Annex a few months back!
Ash: Yeah that was a fun night. We also did a 'fashion week gig' around the same time which was a blast. We were actually pretty anxious before those shows as psychologically it was a big step reverting back to a trio for live and we weren't sure how it'd go / what people would think, but it was a really positive experience and we came out of it reassured we where fine as a 3-piece. Recording the album was a lot of hard work and crazy hours but it's also been really rewarding. It took from September until the end of January to nail it but it's finished and as it's our first fully self produced album it feels like a real achievement. Tim has become a wizard on pro-tools over the last year and after taking a long time to set up we got a fully functioning studio, which is pretty amazing.

4. The Music Slut: Who's idea was it to create the Ash Hangman game for guessing the album title? It's genius! Oh, and can you help us out? We're stumped!
Ash: That was my idea. It's good to wind up the fans and it keeps them checking back on the website! No help shall be given; the Ash boarders have pretty much got it nailed already with a handful of letters.

5. The Music Slut: Who's currently receiving heavy rotation on your iPod?
Ash: Brand New - I love them to unhealthy levels.

6. The Music Slut: Do you ever get tired of fans shouting out for 'Girl From Mars' incessantly? If so, is that why it is usually played relatively early into the set?
Ash: We're holding it back to near the end of the main set now. We'll never get tired of playing it. The fans go mental and that's what we love!

7. The Music Slut: Arctic Monkeys - Love? Hate? Overhyped? The best thing to happen to music in the last ten years? You can be honest with us!
Ash: I think the album's great and I've seen them 3 times over the past 12 months. They seems better in smaller shows like less than 1000 capacity, I really enjoyed them at Webster Hall. At Reading it seemed like the big stage dwarfed them but when Muse came out it was a different story. That's why they're playing 2 Wembley Stadiums which is unbelievable.

8. The Music Slut: Thanks for taking the time to speak with us! Any words of wisdom/wantonness for The Music Slut?
Ash: God Bless them Sluts! ; ) Oh yeah everyone needs to go add Ash as their myspace friend and sign up to our website. 2007 is gonna be busy for us and the new album's our best yet. Honestly it really is!

*Emoticons and all, how can you not love these guys? If you want to take Mark's advice, you can check out Ash's updated MySpace page HERE!

MP3: Ash - Orpheus (acoustic) (via Adventure Club)